Dead 3rd Brake Light

[blazerslave]

I need guidance.

On my '95 Explorer it seems that the 3rd brake light (i.e. the one in the top-middle of the hatch) has died or has been disconnected.

I assume that this light has to be accessed from the inside of the hatch.

How do I get to it? Are there screws to un do or does it just pop off.

What should I expect? Are there a series of bulbs to replace or does the light have to be replaced in its entirity.

Thanks!

 

[Stephen S]

Welcome to the site!! You'll find everything you want to know about your truck right here! Welcome aboard!!

The high mount brake lamp issue has been kicked around here a couple of times. What I've found out is that there is no easy way to access the bulb in the lamp. It is a fluorescent tube (brain fart by Ford), and it is NOT a trivial thing to change. Personally, I have taken the rear hatch apart to see if there is an easy way to do it, and I have found that it will be necessary to remove the trim surrounding the rear glass in order to remove the lense housing. The lense housing is held on by 3 bolts and will slide out from the oustide of the truck. It is held in with bolts and is surrounded by the window trim. The trouble is, the rear window trim is held in be rivets. Don't want to mess with those if you can help it.

But, there may still be some hope. Since the bulb is fluorescent, it requires the use of a ballast to work. The ballast may be the culprit and fortunately, it is easy to change. It is easily accessible with the rear hatch panel removed. The problem is, it is an expensive part just to "try" to see if it fixes the problem. I'll include a couple of other threads discussing the problem. I hope this helps some, and if you have any further questions, ask!!

Dead Link Removed

Dead Link Removed

 

[EliteConcept]

has anyone eles noticed that the new chevy trucks use the fluorescent tube idea now, if its not the same it looks just like it.
anyways maybe chevy is just really behind ford....or maybe they made the fluorescent tube work for them, which i doubt.

 

[diablo5969]

The third brake light really appears to me to be more trouble than it's worth. Mine died a long time ago, and I think it will just stay dead for a little while longer. Unless you have cops in your area that are really **** about brakelights, I wouldn't worry about it

 

[blazerslave]

THANKS

Thanks for the info everyone.

I guess it'll have to be out of sight out of mind.

 

[kps36]

for the 95s in particular, I have heard 'they are designed to never fail, but when they do it's about $280+ to replace' (Ford Service Tech).
What I can't believe is how Diablo can ignore it. Doesn't it flunk inspection ? Even in NC, it will. I imagine in CA they prolly send in the SWAT team !

 

[diablo5969]

Originally posted by kps36
What I can't believe is how Diablo can ignore it. Doesn't it flunk inspection ? Even in NC, it will. I imagine in CA they prolly send in the SWAT team !

What inspection are you talking about? The only inspection I can think of is emissions, and they don't check lights or anything like that for emissions. But yeah, I forgot that he was in California, so maybe it's not such a good idea after all.

 

[blazerslave]

Actually,

I probably could be cited for having the third brake light out, but only by a cop. If anything, it's a justification for me being pulled-over in the hopes that I have something better to arrest me for.

As for vehicle inspections . . . California is less restrictive than say, Oklahoma.

Maybe the ballast failed . . . I'll have to look into it this weekend.

 

[diablo5969]

Originally posted by blazerslave
I probably could be cited for having the third brake light out, but only by a cop. If anything, it's a justification for me being pulled-over in the hopes that I have something better to arrest me for.

It's like that everywhere though, so it's pretty much luck of draw. But most cops wouldn't pull you over for a dead 3rd brake light

 

[Robert]

I don't think it is even a legal requirement to have a working 3rd brake light. At least in Arizona, I think as long as you have one working brake light you are legal. I know it is a Federal requirement that all cars built since 1986 have them and some time later for trucks/SUVs but I don't think the owner has to have it working. I don't know though since mine still works and I see quite a few people missing at least one of their three brake lights. I do remember reading the vehicle code quite a few years ago though regarding brake lights.

 

[kps36]

In NC over the past many years, I have failed on my vehicles (3 trucks,1 car) for the following reasons:
1) passenger side mirror broken
2) one of 2 hi-mount 3rd brake bulbs blown
3) tires worn to excess
4) headlights too dim (condensation in a sealed beam)

All 'safety' features must function, this is the one I like (passenger side mirror) cause I said, what about those basic Hondas that don't come w/P side mirror.
'If it came from the factory with that equipment, it MUST function properly'
Wait till they figure out a test for the Air-Bags, and raise the price another $10 to an already $30 (40 w/aftermarket tinted windows)....

 

[diablo5969]

Originally posted by kps36
In NC over the past many years, I have failed on my vehicles (3 trucks,1 car) for the following reasons:
1) passenger side mirror broken
2) one of 2 hi-mount 3rd brake bulbs blown
3) tires worn to excess
4) headlights too dim (condensation in a sealed beam)

Now, what inspection was it that your failed? Was it like the yearly emissions inspection?

 

[kps36]

That would be the NC State inspec required yearly...emissions..safety, window tinting..any possible way to make a buck. NOW, just this last year, if you don't get your inspec on time, you get a nice little letter from DMV saying you got 30 days to get inspection or your registration is void, and you have to pay $250 to reinstate..I got 3 of those letters over the last year, hard to keep up w/4 vehicles..oh well.
The reasoning on the passenger side mirror really threw me though, I should have just taken it off and put duct tape over the hole.......
I was behind one guy who was told that his Jeep have a total of 7 bulbs out in his car ! he said no thanx, be back tommorrow.
Doesn't GA have the same thing ?

 

[kps36]

And another thing, in NC, you MUST have your vehicle inspected in the county it is registered in !
Kinda hard when the Ex and the Ranger are over 200 miles away at school (the reason for the 3 letters )

 

[diablo5969]

Originally posted by kps36
Doesn't GA have the same thing ?

Nope. Georgia doesn't care at all about any of that stuff. Literally 1/3rd of the cars on the road aren't registered. You'll be driving down the road, and you will see lots of cars that just don't have license plates. The cops don't really care.

We do have a yearly emissions check (for the cars that are registered/insured/etc), but they only check like 3 things. If you want, I can go out of the Ex and get the statement and tell you what they check. But I know they don't care about safety or anything like that.

 

[kps36]

doesn't that drive your insurance through the roof ?
You should see the list of crap that has to pass on the 'sheet'
the emissions readouts are only like a quarter of the page...your readouts vs. acceptable levels. You would think that they would pick on the K&N w/open box (Ex and Ranger) any say that's a no-no, but it passes emissions well in the low range, so I guess they can't.
I been in NC for 20 years, but they are still not as tough as NY was 20 years ago. They put the car on a lift and pulled all wheels for brake inspection and for end play (ball joints, idler arms...)

 

[diablo5969]

Originally posted by kps36
I been in NC for 20 years, but they are still not as tough as NY was 20 years ago. They put the car on a lift and pulled all wheels for brake inspection and for end play (ball joints, idler arms...)

I don't think New York is like that any more. I lived in Connecticut for 12 years, and there they only checked emissions. No other safety features. It took like 5 minutes.